Breastfeeding.....An idiots guide?

[Lizziewhizzie]

Hello lovely ladies,

After a bit of help really, I really really want to try and breastfeed my baby (due in Sept) but I have no idea what I will need? My boobs obvs haha but what else? I would ideally like to express so my husband can help out if needed so maybe a breast pump and bottles - do I still need a steriliser? Bit confused?

:)

You'll need a steriliser for the bottles and pump, and maybe some storage pots so you can put your milk in the freezer/fridge.

Also i'd recommend getting some muslin cloths and maybe a breastfeeding pillow and a bracelet that you can wear to indicate which side baby fed on last. (it's amazing how useful they can be!)

Other than that, just you and your baby :)

Oh thanks Swiss, that makes sense, I have a pillow Ive been using for bad bad which will probs double up. Bracelet is a fantastic idea!

Thanks - feel like such a dope no idea haha

The advice I was given was you don't need to sterilise for breastmilk - just hot water will do.

You need clothes for easy access - I do the top up / vest top down method which keeps my stomach covered so I'm not flashing too much. You can buy special breast feeding stuff but I just wear a cheap primark vest top under my clothes. It doesn't work with mire expensive vest tops - you need to be able to pull it down under your boob so not too much elastic ib the top is a good thing! :)

It is all quite baffling the first time round so don't feel silly!

Still - breastfeeding is so much simpler than bottle/formula feeding so in my opinion you're making the right decision!

Also remember that when you begin breastfeeding, you and the baby are learning together, so have patience and be open to trying different positions and such, and you also may want to stock up on some boxsets to watch in the first few weeks while you're both getting established :)

All the best to you and your baby! :)

Ooh, and straws. For the first few weeks I couldn't co-ordinate picking up my drink and feeding. If I'm honest, I can't work out why now, but I couldn't! I drank everything through a straw and problem solved

to be honest (and from experience) I would try and focus on getting BF established before you worry about trying to express etc. The first 6 weeks are the hardest and baby's feeding pattern will be all over the place - from cluster-feeding non stop at times to a more average 2-3 hourly schedule at others. Expressing can be a faff (I could never get very much out that way) and babies can also get nipple/teat confusion if you introduce bottles too early on as the latch/sucking action is different. It's also much less hassle to stick baby straight on boob when you are tired rather than making up bottles.

As for what you need, I would ensure you get yourself a tube of nipple cream - I used Lansinoh and one tune will last you ages. I also got one of those BF cushions (that fit around your middle) and I found this really comfy, but not everyone would agree with that, so you have to do what else is most comfy for you. Some people invest in a BF chair too, but they can be expensive, just make sure you have somewhere you can get yourself comfy to feed.

If you do express, there are lots of pumps on the market with a massive price variation. I would really recommend an electronic rather than manual one. I got mine on ebay as it was much cheaper to buy second hand and was just as good. You would need bottles and a steriliser, but before you invest in too much, just maybe buy one and see if your baby will suck from it as my DD would never take the bottle so all my efforts to express (and all the equipment I bought) were wasted and hated having to chuck perfectly good milk down the sink...

There is a dedicated breast & bottle feeding board on here where you will also pick up lots of good advice.

Good luck!

Lanisoh cream
Breast pads

P.S. I had a steam steriliser, the tommee tippee one, was just boiled water so didn't use any chemicals for it :)

oh and good nursing bras - but don't get measured for them until a few weeks before your due date as your boobs will change dramatically!

Yeah Ive heard some people really struggle and that it can take real perseverance but I really want to try. Better invest in the nipple cream ;)

So would you wait to buy a pump etc? What do most people do - would you have a bottle/formula (small amount) on hand just in case it all goes horribly wrong (here's me forgetting shops are now open 24hrs haha) I guess Im just really worried about being under prepared and starving my baby, Im a bit of a control freak you see.

get a good book, Bestfeeding is a good one or The Food of Love by Kate Evans

Save kellymom.com to your favourites

Find the breast and bottle feeding section on here

Get the numbers for the BF helplines and local breastfeeding group details.

In fact, if you can, go to a breastfeeding group before the baby is born - you will get to know a few faces and can go back just for company and a chat, or if you need any help.

Other than that, the vast majority of people can breastfeed fine with the right information and a bit of support, for plenty of people it is plain sailing so don't panic that it will be difficult, most niggles can be sorted out

It is quite time consuming and tiring though, but so is any other newborn baby

No! Don't buy any formula as you will be too tempted to use it when you are having a bad day and you will jeapordise (sp?) all the good work you have done. PLus it might be a complete waste of ££ as it will go out of date etc and formula certainly aint cheap!

See if you can find out what support there is in your area before baby arrives - most brestfeeding cafe's/support groups are more than happy for ante-natal mums to visit and talk to the other mums/breastfeeding counsellor/peer supporter for advice. Do you have a local surestart children's centre near you? They often have BF support available.

I found that having sourced all the info and support beforehand re latch/positioning etc, made it so much easier when DD arrived. You WILL be able to do this. Trust in your body and all will be fine

Thanks for all the advice - The health visitor did mention a breast feeding group that meets monthly I could go to so I will ask what the next date is! Its an entire new world of stuff I dont know but im so excited to start it :)

I really, really struggled with BFing, in the end I exclusively pumped (only feeding expressed milk) but a friend lent me this book. It's excellent, I found it really useful.

Dh only ever gave the dcs expressed milk if I was out somewhere. It's more hassle to express just to let the other half 'have a go at feeding the baby'. It's also v stressful watching someone else do soemthign the baby obviously doesn't want to do.

Dh always bathed the babies, right from the start. That was his way of bonding with them, and my way of getting half an hour or so off. Bath time is still his responsibility now.

The biggest factor in predicting successful breastfeeding is the determination to do it (very few women are actually physically incapable of it, they just don't understand normal infant behaviour and assume they aren't producing enough milk when they are), so having formula in case is not a good plan.

Be aware that tongue tie is very underdiagnosed (especially posterior ones) so if you have issues that aren't resolved by working on latch/position etc it may well be that. It can be fixed though!

After the baby is born and while you are still in hospital, use the call button every time you want to give a feed and ask one of the midwives to observe/help you. IME they are happy to help. They will manhandle your boob into the right position and ensure you are holding the baby correctly.

Be (mentally) prepared for the few days when 'the milk comes in', a few days after giving birth. Your boobs will feel like red hot cannon balls stuffed with ball bearings. You may want to get your DH to massage them with a warm flannel while you feed (he'll enjoy that).

Curlyj that is such a good idea re antenatal visit to breastfeeding group.

Lizzie, my list would be:

• Nice nursing bras
• Vest top for covering the belly when feeding out vest is purpose made, otherwise any vest top you can pull down, or else wear boobtube style if you have bigger breasts and pulling down doesnt work (me!)
• breast pads for the early days
• lots of support
• knowledge that it takes a few weeks to get right/settle down for everyone and that newborn babies dont sleep through the night, no matter how you feed them, but they all do eventually!

Good luck :)

Lansinoh cream, breast pads, comfy clothes to feed in, good bras, (including stretchy nighttime ones - comfy as anything), don't worry about expressing for a month or so, don't be afraid to ask for help, and then ask again - there are lots of people who want to help!
I have a really great flat strap-round-the-tummy pillow (called my breast friend or something) from mothercare. It is the best thing ever, and I still use it at bedtime now DS is 11 months. Wasn't cheap, but pence-per-use is very low!

The single most useful thing you can do is educate yourself about what to expect in the first week or so. Especially in the first few days. I think a lot of people give up saying they obviously don't have enough milk as their newborn needs to nurse so often. if you know that it is normal, and you know that on around day 2 or 3 the baby will be constantly suckling on and off to stimulate your milk supply then you won't think it is all going wrong and get the formula out instead. The first week is ever so tiring but it gets better very quickly.

And to follow on from KatAndKit, at some point your supply will settle down, and you won't have that engorged feeling when it's time for another feed. This does not mean you aren't producing enough milk any more (I know a few people who've given up at this point, thinking they didn't have enough milk). Boobs are magic, and will make the milk that your baby needs.

I highly recommend [http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Brest-Friend-Blue-Stripe/dp/B000MS2UCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340972524&sr=8-1 this breastfeeding pillow]] - so useful and made bf much easier.

If you want to express then [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medela-Swing-Electric-Breastpump-Calma/dp/B000LPZTQY/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1340972580&sr=1-1 this breast pump]] is excellent - the electric ones are more expensive but MUCH more effective than manual ones, esp if you don't have a lot of milk.

I agree with whoever said to wait until you are actually bf before spending the money though - would be a great shame to be £100 down if you then switch to formula after a week or two.

I highly recommend [http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Brest-Friend-Blue-Stripe/dp/B000MS2UCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340972524&sr=8-1 this breastfeeding pillow]] - so useful and made bf much easier.

If you want to express then [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medela-Swing-Electric-Breastpump-Calma/dp/B000LPZTQY/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1340972580&sr=1-1 this breast pump]] is excellent - the electric ones are more expensive but MUCH more effective than manual ones, esp if you don't have a lot of milk.

I agree with whoever said to wait until you are actually bf before spending the money though - would be a great shame to be £100 down if you then switch to formula after a week or two.

Sorry for double post and links that didn't work.

this breastfeeding pillow

this breast pump

The Food of love book
Watch free videos on Dr Jack Newman site or look on YouTube
A stool or pile of phone directories and a breastfeeding cushion like the Widgy
Kellymom site
Mums net breast and bottle feeding forum
A couple pf night nursing bras which can be worn in day as a starter until your boobs settle down - they will be bigger for the first six weeks so I didn't bother with daytime bras til then
Some women never pump much and pumps are a it pointless at first, so wait til lashing out on that. You can hand express if you want to try after a few weeks and save money!
Cheap stretchy camisoles from marks or Primark will do along with cardigans and hoodies you already have, or shirts you can unbutton.
You don't need to buy special clothes.
A Muslim or scarf or pashmina can be draped to cover yourself if you feel shy.
Lanai oh cream before and after feeds.
And pop to that group and chat to others - no substitute for seeing it done and getting real life help.
Breast pads to pop in bras when you leak
Pack of muslin squares to mop up baby sick and milk posset and generally use for everything!
Thermal mug and supply of drinks and snacks that can be eaten one handed
Comfy chAir or sofa and DVDs.
Fill freez with meals now so you don't have to cook much.
Good luck, it can be hard but once you're established, is so easy and cuddly and nice. But get help at first signof soreness to check latch and for blocked ducts, thrush or mastitis.